"The car has multiple personalities," says a smiling Stan Briggs of the Aston Martin DBS.
Stan is the brand manager at Scottsdale Aston Martin, a Penske Automotive Group dealership, which is awaiting delivery of the new luxury sports car from the Land of Bond. Excited AM-ers might want to rush down to 6825 E. McDowell Road as soon as the DBS lands.
"For city driving, this is a very-easy-to drive coupe," he explains. "Or, it's a car that can be taken on a long trip with great comfort. On the track, due to the adjustable suspension, ceramic brakes, weight distribution, racing clutch, horsepower and torque, it's a superb performance vehicle." Stan knows: He test-drove the DBS during its development: "I found it very easy to drive on the race course from the very beginning," he recalls. The new supercar is closer to the DBR9 2007 Le Mans GR1-class winner than it is to the DB9, he explains, noting that, although in its DBS form it has not been raced, big brother (the DBR9) has established impeccable race credentials. |
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The six-speed rear-wheel-drive coupe (MSRP: $265,000) is the fastest product AM ever, he says - so this car from the Aston Martin Lagonda crew in Warwickshire, England, won't need a retractable bullet-proof shield and smokescreen and other "Q"-equipped trickery.
That's because few vehicles, super or superagent issued, will be able to keep up with this new AM. With a 6-liter quad overhead camshaft V12 hand-built in Cologne, Germany, the DBS pumps out 510 brake horsepower just short of 6500 rpm and 420 foot pounds of torque at about 6000 rpm. That would have Oddjob throwing fits as well as steel-rimmed hats and Auric Goldfinger garaging even the gilded Rolls.
Acceleration is immediate and assured: 0-62 mph in 4.3 seconds, with a top speed of 191 mph. Look for a combined 17 mpg, street and highway - if you drive it as M might. |
